TL;DR: New users can get lifetime access to all 14 languages on Babbel for $159 with promo code LEARN until September 8.

You can only point at a menu and smile for so long before it’s time to speak the local lingo. If your version of “fluent” means Googling phrases at dinner, it might be time for a smarter approach.

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The app works across devices (even offline if you download lessons ahead of time), and it uses speech-recognition technology to help with pronunciation so you’re not just learning the words, you’re learning how to say them like you belong. You also get access to Babbel’s AI conversation partner and personalized review sessions to help everything stick.

Download the app, pick a language (or all 14), and start sounding like a local before your next flight boards.

Grab this lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning for just $159 when you use promo code LEARN at checkout by September 8 — way less than a single semester of college Spanish.

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)

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What you need to know

• A user on Telegram posted a snapshot of a feature in testing for the Google Translate app known as “Practice.”
• Another tipster chimed in, diving into the app’s APK, discovering that users could find guided listening and speaking practices/quizzes for new languages.
• There’s no telling when this could arrive; however, the feature seems mostly put together, meaning we could be approaching its arrival.

There’s a new feature rumored for the Google Translate app that might take on some popular language learning apps (looking at you, Duolingo).

An APK teardown conducted by Android Authority after an alleged discovery by Telegram user Mehrad suggests Google Translate might get a new “Practice” button. According to the Telegram post, the company is seemingly working on a way for users to practice new languages, similar to Duolingo. Mehrad was able to screenshot a “Practice Spanish” menu, which displays the user’s goal (how well they want to speak), Daily Activities, and Words Practiced.

Also, it was nearly cut off, but there’s a button that says “create your own practice scenario,” which could come in handy if you’re trying to gauge your abilities in specific situations.

On the other hand, the publication, alongside tipster AssembleDebug, dove into the Translate app’s code to discover a new graduation cap icon representing “Practice.” Google’s tagline reads, “practice with AI-powered conversations.” The app gives several “recommended” scenarios, encompassing both listening and speaking practices. When listening, users are given an audio clip and asked to tap which words they recognize.

After it’s done, and you’ve seen how well you faired, the Translate app lets users adjust the difficulty of its generated scenarios.

When creating a pretend custom speaking scenario, the tipster highlights the ability for users to write their own situation or choose a recommended one. From there, users are presented with a selection of “tasks” to complete before getting the chance to speak into the app. There’s also a “proficiency” level users can select, which is how well they’re able to speak the language they want to learn. The post states there were options present for “Just Starting, Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.”

The tipster also discovered a quiz function that’s created using “rounds.” From both Mehrad’s screenshot on Telegram and the tipster’s APK deep dive, it seems Google Translate’s language learning feature is nearly completed. There’s no telling when it could arrive officially, but perhaps it’s soon.

Breaking barriers

Earlier in June, we heard rumors about a design shakeup for the Google Translate app that could incorporate more features. The “more translations” header was discovered, giving users more insight into the other ways a word could be translated in other languages. Other additions, like “Regional Variants,” were discovered, as well as “Ask a question.”

Much of this has some of Google’s AI intelligence under the hood, helping users find the answers they’re after.